How to Cook Sausages in the Oven

Susan Lundman
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updated on May 25, 2018

About the Author:

Susan Lundman

Susan Lundman began writing about her passions of cooking, gardening, entertaining and recreation after working for a nonprofit agency, writing grants and researching child development issues. She has written professionally for six years since then. Lundman received her M.A. from Stanford University.

For a fairly quick and easy way to cook sausages for breakfast, lunch or dinner, considering cooking them in the oven instead of your stovetop.
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When it comes to preparing sausages, many kinds of cooking techniques result in a juicy, flavorful result. But cooking sausages in the oven saves you the trouble of constant turning, and keeps your stovetop clean from splattered grease.

Fresh ground sausage requires thorough cooking, until all the pink is gone, to avoid trichinosis. Lightly cured sausages, such as hot dogs or bratwurst, are precooked and need a shorter baking time.

Sausages

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven

Step 2: Prep Your Sausages

Place sausages in a roasting pan. Drizzle one tablespoon of olive oil over the sausages to ensure a brown crust.

Tip

Use a cast iron skillet if you prefer, but make sure the handles are also cast iron and are ovenproof. A baking sheet will work, too, but will allow more splatters on your oven walls.

Step 3: Bake Your Sausages

Bake the sausages for 15 to 20 minutes. Thick sausages may take up to an hour to cook. If you do use thick sausages, turn them once or twice over the course of the hour to ensure they cook through and brown up on all sides.

Step 4: Test Your Sausages

Pierce the sausages with the tip of a knife or the tines of a fork to test for doneness after 15 minutes. Look for clear juices or cut into one sausage to make sure it is thoroughly cooked with no pinkness remaining.

Additional Ingredients

Step 1: Saute Onions and Peppers

Saute onions, peppers and garlic in two tablespoons of olive oil while the sausages roast. Cook the vegetables on medium heat for five to six minutes, or until they are tender.

Tip

For an alternative cooking method, add the onions, pepper and garlic directly into the roasting pan, and cook along with the sausages for a one-pan meal with softer vegetables.

Step 2: Add Seasonings

Add salt, pepper, tomato sauce and two tablespoons of water. Let the mixture cook for an additional five minutes.

Step 3: Finish and Serve

Place the vegetables in a large serving dish and top with the sausages. Sprinkle parsley over the top.

Tip

Serve with crusty bread to soak up the cooking juices and a green salad on the side for a fresh contrast to the sausages.

Warning

Trichinosis is caused by eating undercooked pork infected with roundworm cysts. About 40 cases each year are reported in the US. If you contract trichinosis, you may experience cramping, diarrhea, fever or muscle pain that may or may not go away on its own. To avoid infection, cook all pork until no pink meat remains.